By Pat Murphy​

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Rome, you may have gathered by now, is one of my favourite – if not my favourite – cities. It’s the home of Christianity. It’s a city visited by millions of people every year – not just by Christians, but people of many religions and none, for its sheer rugged beauty and elegance. It has it all: architecture, sculptures, paintings, history, bridges, and so much more.

 
Fountains have always fascinated me, and especially in Rome where there are so many (about 1,000, I believe), often with a story attached. Even if you have not visited the city, everyone knows of the Trevi Fountain (three coins in a…) and the promise of a return visit to the city if you throw the coins into the fountain. Judging by the number of visitors, these days there must be a hefty sum of money that is tossed in, but fortunately it is collected and donated to charity each year. On my first visit to the Trevi Fountain, I was rather underwhelmed. In the early 1970s, like so many buildings, it was totally black. Post-millennium, it certainly has the wow factor now, and is one of the most visited places in Rome. 

Another fountain, often a meeting place, is the “Fountain of the Boat” complete with a rather large fish at the base of the Spanish Steps. It was commissioned by the pope in the 17th century as part of a papal project to have a fountain in every major square in Rome. Quite an undertaking. It is one of my favourites, and I am saddened that it has been damaged by tourists on several occasions. 

Of course, St Peter’s Square has two identical fountains which stand either side of the Obelisk, designed by Bernini (who designed St Peter’s Square’s colonnades). A few years ago, while in Rome, we had a short after-dinner walk to the square, which is a lovely way to round the day off in Rome, as the area becomes very quiet and gentle. The fountains were floodlit and about 20 pigeons were showering in one of the fountains, taking no notice of anyone, and having photographs taken from all angles. Friday night is bath night for the pigeons! Such a fun and happy memory of the square at night. 

Where are my favourite fountains? The Piazza Navona, especially the famous Bernini fountain, The Fountain of the Four Rivers, facing the Church of St Agnes. The legend of the fountain is that Bernini covered the head of the Nile as if the sculpture couldn’t bear to look at the façade of the church designed by his rival Borromini. 

Bernini said the church would collapse at any moment. A legend, but both the church and the fountain are still standing.